The Namibia Bus and Taxi Association yesterday announced that due to the escalation of basic commodities’ prices, including fuel, bus and taxi fares across the country will increase by 15% on 1 November 2021. 

National bus and taxi fares were initially increased by 15% at the advent of Covid-19 lockdowns, but reverted once the travel restrictions were lifted. 

This means that if a taxi fare was N$12, it will now be N$14. 

“It is for the reason that buses and taxis have been operating for a long time without a tariff increment. Therefore, members of the public are hereby urged to be prepared for such adjustments, and to adhere accordingly,” read a statement from Nabta’s acting president, Jeffrey Platt. 

Via the statement, he also announced a national price adjustment conference slated to take place in Windhoek on Thursday, 28 October. 

“The reason to hold this important conference is to update and correct the bus and taxi price mismatches in order to have one national, unified tariff guide on short and long distances and stop the continuous fight between bus and taxi drivers and their passengers countrywide,” he stressed.

 He further invited bus and taxi operators and owners from all regions of the country to attend the conference. Only four Nabta members are expected from each region, two representing long-distance operators and two from regional taxi operators. Only the Khomas region is allowed to send 10 members to the conference. 

“Members are advised to bring copies of old prices from their regions and towns to make the price adjustment easier at the conference,” Platt added.